This is the type of thing I would have never even given consideration to. I am the trusting type and this is a great lesson for all of us when we are attempting to give away our hard earned money to some crook who is in the business of cheating us out of it. If you paid $1500.00 for this pistol and discovered this deception you would be out some serious money. I noticed the serial # being slanted too....Must be a hand job in more ways than one..Thanks for a heads up I never would have thought of John... Jerry